Uganda gets first tractor assembling plant

  1. Posted on Friday 20 June 2008 - 09:12
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    Fredrick Mugira, AfricaNews reporter in Mbarara, Uganda
    A plant for assembling tractors locally targeting both domestic and regional markets has been commissioned in Uganda. Uganda - Iran (UGIRAN) tractor assembling plant is a joint venture between Uganda and Iran, which hold 40% and 60% of shares respectively.
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    Uganda is represented by the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) shares while Iran is represented by Iran Tractor manufacturing Company (ITMCO).

    Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni commissioned the plant with an appeal to all development partners and industrialists to invest in agro-processing in Uganda if farmers are to be motivated to produce and engage in meaningful commercial agriculture.

    President Museveni said that although government has made deliberate efforts to promote agricultural production throughout all the 5,000 parishes in the country, production has been hampered by lack of sufficient markets to absorb what is being produced. He noted that lack of markets is even worsened by inability to process what is produced which if done would enable our products access international markets.

    Mr. Museveni, therefore, said that although Uganda has the potential to produce a variety of products and has also negotiated for markets in Europe, the USA, China, the EU and India, the inability to process what it produces has greatly hampered the progress of the Ugandan farmers because their products cannot access those markets.

    Speaking during the same occasion, the Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Manochehe Mottaki said that the joint venture is a symbol of co-operation between Uganda and Iran. He expressed optimism that the tractor assembling plant will cater for Uganda’s needs as well as for the region.

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